Political Views
In his later years, Camiroaga openly demonstrated his political preferences, something uncommon in Chilean television presenters.
It's hard to break the patterns in my workspace, where the TV presenters need to be direct, and neutral in some topics. It surprises me when say we are opinion leaders, but actually the opinion leaders can't say anything but sillinesses, unrelated to deeper issues which interest the country. I have not rebelled, I just think that I have to change my mind.
— Felipe Camiroaga, Qué Pasa, November 2009
Although he grew up in a right-wing family, supportive of the Pinochet military regime, Camiroaga supported the Concertación coalition of left-wing parties since Chile became a democracy; in 2008 he said he was a "Bacheletist" ("bacheletista") —supporter of President of Chile Michelle Bachelet— in the Caras magazine, and in 2009 he said Chile was admired for the governments of such a coalition. In 2010 he joined the runoff campaign of Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the Concertación candidate for the Chilean presidential election. Frei said Camiroaga was a "very brave man" for publicly expressing his political views.
Camiroaga also participated in campaigns by Greenpeace; he openly asked Chile's Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter on Buenos Días a Todos for the government, led by Sebastián Piñera, to halt the installation of a thermoelectric plant in Caleta Punta Choros—which was later reversed— and supported the 2011 student movement in Chile.
Read more about this topic: Felipe Camiroaga
Famous quotes containing the words political and/or views:
“My business is stanching blood and feeding fainting men; my post the open field between the bullet and the hospital. I sometimes discuss the application of a compress or a wisp of hay under a broken limb, but not the bearing and merits of a political movement. I make gruelnot speeches; I write letters home for wounded soldiers, not political addresses.”
—Clara Barton (18211912)
“It is even more grim and wild than you had anticipated, a damp and intricate wilderness, in the spring everywhere wet and miry. The aspect of the country, indeed, is universally stern and savage, excepting the distant views of the forest from hills, and the lake prospects, which are mild and civilizing in a degree.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)